Health Alert: Toxic Henna Tattoos Pose Risk to Children During Ramadan Celebrations

Little girls are very enthusiastic about the idea of having beautiful henna designs drawn on their hands on the occasion of Ramadan. But beware, this joy can turn into a nightmare if the henna has been mixed with toxic products.

"A few years ago, I wanted to celebrate the Night of Destiny by putting henna on my daughter’s hands. This ceremony that we were supposed to spend in joy and good humor turned into a nightmare. A few minutes after the henna application, my daughter felt tingling and itching. When we got home, her hands swelled up and turned all red. The next day, blistering lesions covered the entire tattoo. When we consulted the doctor, he explained to us that it was a skin rash due to a diluent used to mix the henna," testifies Malika to SNRT News.

While the use of henna is harmless to health, the diluents added, on the other hand, can cause skin damage. "The henna plant poses no health risk. However, the fact of adding a diluent to get a more vivid color can cause a lot of problems. These added products can cause contact eczema that can range from small red lesions to large lesions, even blistering eczema. The risk is higher in young girls who suffer from chronic illnesses or diabetes," explains dermatologist Amal Akazan.

To avoid these skin allergies, the specialist recommends that young girls and mothers "ask the hennayates to use natural henna to which a few drops of lemon can be added to get a darker color and to avoid any diluent or chemical product".